I think the main problem is that the myth is not properly defined.
"If a plane is traveling at takeoff speed on a conveyor belt, and the belt is matching that speed in the opposite direction, can the plane take off?"
This quote here sums up the problem with this myth. It says the plane is traveling at takeoff speed and the belt is matching the speed in the opposite direction. I assume by traveling at takeoff speed,, this is relative to the conveyor belt. In this scenario, the plane obviously can not take off, since it needs speed relative to the air around it, which it doesn't have.
The main problem is, of course, that this scenario is impossible. The conveyor belt will not slow down the plane because movement of the plane is provided by the engines, which move the plane relative to the air, and not relative to the ground. So basically if they're asking "Under this scenario that can not happen, will the plane take off?" and the answer is no. But if they're asking "If we put a conveyor belt under a plane and moved it in the opposite direction, can it take off?" the answer is yes, no matter how damn fast you move that conveyor belt.
Help! I'm stuck in a forum signature!
